I'm so proud!! I finally got yelled at!!

ShutteredEye · Apr 21, 2005

Well, I ran up to the Botanic Gardens in Ft Worth this evening to shoot a roll since school has kept me from shooting for awhile now. (Will have the results of this evening's shoot tomorrow, after I get them developed.)

I actually was accosted by the security guard!!!

"Who do you work for?" he demanded of me.

Uhh.....

"Do you have a permit?"

Uhhh.....

Took me awhile to convince him I was actually an amateur. I don't think he believed me. Thought he was going to frisk me!

Anyway, I was proud. I guess I look vaguely like a pro....

Corry · Apr 21, 2005

Yaaaay! Congrats! (I guess! :lol:

) Guess I don't look like a pro...I haven't been yelled at yet!

craig · Apr 22, 2005

Hey now... We have all been hounded by the cops. I never considered it anything to be proud of. Personally; in this time of political unrest I feel that we have to make our intentions clear as photographers.

ShutteredEye · Apr 22, 2005

craig said:
Hey now... We have all been hounded by the cops. I never considered it anything to be proud of. Personally; in this time of political unrest I feel that we have to make our intentions clear as photographers.

Well, I hadn't been up until now. I was actually being sarcastic, because I didn't really enjoy the experience because the guy was a real jerk to me. He never did believe me, he just backed off when I asked for his name, badge number, and supervisor's name.

And I was in the middle of a city park. Taking pictures of flowers. By myself. Not really sure how unclear my intentions could have been....

photong · Apr 22, 2005

" he just backed off when I asked for his name, badge number, and supervisor's name." ill have to use that one.

Alison · Apr 22, 2005

A permit?? Wow, I can't imagine even someone shooting "professionally" would need a permit in a public spot. Good for you for standing up for your rights and asking for his information.

JonMikal · Apr 22, 2005

mountainlander said:
And I was in the middle of a city park. Taking pictures of flowers. By myself. Not really sure how unclear my intentions could have been....

doesnt matter. you should come to dc, this will occur EVERYWHERE you go.

it will depend where you live as to how often you get questioned. it does become a bit irritating at times because you know you're intentions; but they don't, and since 9/11 they look at us all differently and have policies to enforce; doing their job. they can regulate anything on their property, but what they like to say a lot is " you can't take a picture of this building or whatever". not true - you can photograph any building/garden/whatever you want from a public place. what may happen, if you get the "wrong" guard, is carried inside, questioned, photographed, your camera and contents reviewed by several guards, so on and so on. then after an hour or so you'll wish you never took the damn pic. they win cause next time you'll pass it up. don't - just know your limitations/rights.

what a world we live in today. today you need to do a bit of research and find out what's up in your town or where you'll be visiting and go from there. interpretations will vary, but you'll be armed with some good information.

being as polite and cooperative as im sure you were is the key. you'll get a few more shots, good conversation and then you're on your way without delay. works for me.

Canon Fan · Apr 22, 2005

Heh! Congrats? Actually I had a similar circumstance yesterday with a local cop while taking a photo of a car with a tree that had fallen on it (pictured elsewhere on the forum) he said "That car is private property parked ON private property" I then reminded him that I was standing on a public sidewalk with a telephoto lense. Whether it was right or wrong he did leave me alone after that

Meysha · Apr 22, 2005

I know we've had this discution here before on the forum about legality of taking photos. And I just found out that it's illegal for me, or anyone in France, to take a photo of someone in public on public property whatever, and to then broadcast it to the public, like on this forum without their permission.
It's some stupid privacy act they have here that I think is seriously ridiculous. You see it all the time on TV here, everyone has their faces blurred out because the TV stations couldn't be bother walking around to everyone in the street with a bit of paper to sign.

Xmetal · Apr 22, 2005

So what if they shouted at you???

SHOUT BACK!!! :lol:

mentos_007 · Apr 22, 2005

wow congrats!!! a few days ago I was yelled at too

but by a bodyguard of our previous prime minister so I didn't want to make an argument with that HUGE guy

craig · Apr 23, 2005

Nothing is ever easy. Maybe it comes down to the photos? let's see said shots in question (considering they have been cleared by the proper authorities).

ShutteredEye · Apr 23, 2005

craig said:
Nothing is ever easy. Maybe it comes down to the photos? let's see said shots in question (considering they have been cleared by the proper authorities).

Bah. The photo lab didn't scan them onto CD for me like I asked. Now it's going to be stupid expensive. I'll try and get a decent scan of a few on my flatbed.

steve817 · Apr 24, 2005

mountainlander said:
Well, I hadn't been up until now. I was actually being sarcastic, because I didn't really enjoy the experience because the guy was a real jerk to me. He never did believe me, he just backed off when I asked for his name, badge number, and supervisor's name.

And I was in the middle of a city park. Taking pictures of flowers. By myself. Not really sure how unclear my intentions could have been....

I'm guessing you were out there with a tripod. It is free for the general public but there is a fee that professionals have to pay ($25.00 I think). The way they determine if your a professional or not....you guessed it, a tripod.